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The Stranger At The Diner

  • Elijah said to her, Don't be afraid; go and do as you have said; but make me of it a little cake first, and bring it forth to me, and afterward make for you and for your son. For thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, The jar of meal shall not empty, neither shall the jar of oil fail, until the day that Yahweh sends rain on the earth. She went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, ate many days. 1 Kings 17:12 WEB

    Once when a pastor / mentor of mine made his regular trip to the local diner to get food for his family, there was a strange man outside the diner dressed in ragged clothes. Now this was years ago in a small town in the country where everyone knew everyone else, called Loris, South Carolina. Seeing strangers then was a rare sight. Pastor had never seen the man before, but when he got out of his car, the man asked him for money to buy something to eat with.

    The pastor looked in his wallet and saw that he only had a twenty dollar bill, just enough to buy the usual food for the family. As he started to close his wallet, he felt the Holy Spirit say: 'You have your checkbook with you. You could buy the food with that.' So he pulled out the twenty dollars and gave it to the stranger.

    Pastor then went inside the diner to get his order and when the food was ready, he went to write them a check for it. The owner looked him over slowly and said: 'You're the one that pastors that church up there ain't ya.' He waited a minute and then said: 'There is no charge.'

    The pastor thanked him and left. The next time that he visited the diner, it was the same thing: 'No charge.' That was now over twenty-five years ago and he and his family still eat there free every week. We have eaten there ourselves, and the pastor is a dear friend of ours. The employees just wave them through the line. He does not even pull out his wallet anymore, he just thanks them and takes the bag. He never saw the stranger in the ragged clothes again.

    Hebrews 13:2 reads: 'Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for in doing so, some have entertained angels without knowing it.' I am not saying that this man was an angel, but apparently some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Abraham fed three strangers that came by his tent, and it turned out to be the Lord and two angels (Genesis 18:1).

    Jesus told us: 'For whoever will give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you are Christ's, most assuredly I tell you, he will in no way lose his reward' (Mark 9:41).

    Sometimes God sets up a little test for you. The widow in the opening verses had to make Elijah some food first, who was to her just another stranger in need. Jesus said 'Give and it will be given to you.' Action is first required on our part, then there is a reward. Of course we do not have to give. That is our choice to make and if we choose not to, God will just choose someone else to receive what He wanted to give us. Just know that God may place a stranger in front of you in need, just to see what you will do.

    Prayer: Heavenly Father help me see people as You see them. Give me discernment and speak to me clearly in a way that I understand. Move on my heart and I will obey You, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.

    Note: "Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you." (Jeremiah 29:12). If you have a prayer need, we are here for you! We and the prayer team are ready to lift you up at our private prayer page: RHM Prayer Network


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27 comments
  • 1
Debi Burton
Debi Burton Great devotional this morning! Lord..... help our hearts and minds to hear and understand you so we can serve you the best! In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen
April 10, 2018
  • 2
Taiye Fashu
Taiye Fashu

God give me the grace and the spirit to be kind  

April 10, 2018
  • 1
Chikela  Cruse
Chikela Cruse

Amen 

April 10, 2018
  • 2
Jim Jarrell
Jim Jarrell

Amen! There are those who say that God does not test us. I think if He tested Abraham, He will probably test us also!

April 10, 2018
  • 1
Celeste Strenn
Celeste Strenn

Amen! :)

April 10, 2018
  • 1
David and Dianna Wyles
David and Dianna Wyles

Prayer: Heavenly Father help me see people as You see them. Give me discernment and speak to me clearly in a way that I understand. Move on my heart and I will obey You, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen Thank you

April 10, 2018
  • 1
Schalk  de Beer
Schalk de Beer

Amen Lord

April 10, 2018
  • 1
Kay Collinsworth
Kay Collinsworth

Amen

April 10, 2018
  • 1
Mary Elizondo
Mary Elizondo

AMEN

April 10, 2018
  • 1
Marisa Jackson
Marisa Jackson

Amen!!

April 10, 2018
  • 1
Wanda Pennington
Wanda Pennington

Amen

April 10, 2018
  • 2
Ed Frye
Ed Frye

Amen! Thank you Lord for your blessings. Help me to consider the unfortunate and to bless them as You have blessed me. Amen

April 10, 2018
  • 2
Linda Clark
Linda Clark

Yes God is my rock praise to the king

April 10, 2018
  • 1
Mari Kaufmann
Mari Kaufmann

Amen. 

April 10, 2018
  • 1
Lynn Brown
Lynn Brown

Great devotional! Heavenly Father help me see people as You see them. Give me discernment and speak to me clearly in a way that I understand. Move on my heart and I will obey You, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.

April 10, 2018
  • 2
David  Earlywine
David Earlywine

Thanks for the daily devotional.Help us to share with others in need....Amen 

April 10, 2018
  • 1
Lorena Amador
Lorena Amador

Amen.

April 10, 2018
  • 1
Jose Simo
Jose Simo

Dear Father, give us the wisdom to understand Your message to do what You expect us to do. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. 

Great devotional. 

April 10, 2018
  • 1
Liesel  aka  Lisa Wardle
Liesel aka Lisa Wardle

Thank you Pastor Dion for today's message, not just a parable, but a true story and what a testimony!

Prayer: Oh Lord, my God, please fill me with Thy Holy Spirit to fallow Your bidding, your leading, to hear Your voice. I want more of Thee and less of me! Please forgive me all the sins that so easily beset me and show me the way, Your way, in the holy name of Jesus I ask and pray, Amen!

 

April 10, 2018
  • 1
Richard Mondello
Richard Mondello

Amen

April 10, 2018
  • 1
Deng Tembreza
Deng Tembreza

Amen

April 10, 2018
  • 1
Barbara Neahring
Barbara Neahring

Thank you!

April 10, 2018
  • 1
Sherry McCosh
Sherry McCosh

Wonderful Message as always. Thanks so much for your time to put these messages together! They are such a blessing !!

April 11, 2018
  • 1
Ida Ruth Rodriguez
Ida Ruth Rodriguez

Amen

April 11, 2018
  • 1
Ticardo Williams
Ticardo Williams

Amen.  Praise God!  Thanks Pastor Todd!  Heavenly Father help me see people as You see them. Give me discernment and speak to me clearly in a way that I understand. Move on my heart and I will obey You, in the Name of Jesus Christ I pray.  Amen.

April 11, 2018
  • 1
Liesel  aka  Lisa Wardle
Liesel aka Lisa Wardle

Amen

 

April 11, 2018
  • 1
Wesley Paulus
Wesley Paulus

Amen!

April 12, 2018